Combined switch and fuse



Dec. 2l, 1943.

w. o. sc HuLfrz rs1-A1. Re. 22,412

COMBINED SWITCH AND FUSE original Filed July 13, 1932 4 sheets-sheet 1Re. 22,1412y Dec. 21, 1943.

w. o.' scHuLTz E'AL CMBINED SWITCH AND FUSE Original Filed July 13.19252 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 2l, 1943. w. o` scHULTz ETAL Re. 22,412

COMBINED SWITCH AND PUSE original Filed July l5. 1932 4 sheets-sheet 3Snventors J/f Dec. 21, 1943.

W. O. SCHULTZ ETAL COMBINED SWITCH AND FUSE Original Filed July l5, 19324 Sheets-Sheet 4 mb 1 Q n@ mi (ttorneg Reinued Dec. 21, 1943 COMBINEDSWITCH AND FUSE William 0. Schultz, South Milwaukee, and Alwin G.Steinmeier. Shorewood, Wis., assignors to Line Material Company, SouthMilwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Original No. 2.176.227, datedOctober 17, 1939, Se-

rial No. 622,292, July 13, 1932. Application for reissue August 30,1943, Serial No. 5.00.57! v 39 Claims.

This invention relates to a combined switch and fuse.

In fuse constructions as heretofore made for use in the protection ofhigh voltage lines it has been the practice heretofore to provide somemeans in certain forms of these fuses for allowing the fuse to rockoutwardly after the fuse link has been ruptured, to thereby increase theseparation between the live side of the line and the fuse structure.

These devices have heretofore been made either in the form oi' a sticktype of circuit breaker, which requires a relatively large swing, or inother types of fuses in which the fuse is located within the tube opento the weather at the top.

In view of the fact that fiber is the usual, and, in fact, a very highlyserviceable material for the construction of the inner portion at leastof fuse tubes, it has been found that devices of this nature collectwater and the fiber, as is well known, absorbs the Water in considerablequantity causing warping and other defects which renders the fuse'unserviceable and inoperative.

This invention is designed to overcome the above noted defects, andobjects of this invention are to provide a combined switch and fusewhich is so made that although a fuse tube is used and is so constructedthat it swings outwardly to provide the maximum space between the liveportion of the line and the remainder of the fuse upon rupturing of thefuse link, nevertheless is protected from the collection of water withinthe tube, so that although a liber tube or at least a iiber lined tubemay be employed, nevertheless warping and distortion and other incidentdefects due to the collection f water is wholly avoided. v

Further objects are to provide a iuse which is so made that one endautomatically moves outwardly a considerable distance from the live sideof the line and prevents leakage after the fuse link has ruptured, andwhich although it swings through a considerable are, nevertheless iscushioned at the lower portion of its swing so that excessive forces orjars and excessive strains are not imposed upon. the structure, andwhich also ls so made that it may be readily re-i'used and replaced andmay be removed or repositioned by means of an ordinary fuse stick orswitch stick, the construction also providing an operating ring. ormember adapted to be engaged by the iuse stick when it is desired to usethe device as a disconnecting switch.

Further objects are. to providea fuse construcceiving member 1.

tion in which a fuse tube houses the major portion of a fuse link, thelower end of the fuse link being clamped to an auxiliary pivoted membe;which pivotally supports the ruse, and which when the fuse link blows,permits the fuse to drop downwardly, thereby detaching the upper end ofthe fuse and allowing the fuse structure to swing outwardly, and tosoconstruct the device that a direct spring contact connection isprovided between the auxiliary pivoted member or link receiving memberand the lower contact, a similar direct connection by means of a springcontact being provided between the upper contact of the fuse and theupper contactmember, provision also being made for the protection of theupper and lower portions of the mechanism from the effects of sleet.

Further objects are to providea novel form of combined fuse and switchwhich is compact, which is easy to produce, which is reliable inoperation, and which may be readily re-fused, removed or replaced, asoccasion demands.

Embodiments oi' the inventionare shown in the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of the device.

Figure 2 is a view, partly in section, of the structure shown in Figure1.

Figure 3 is a front view of the structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4- is a view, with parts broken away, of a inodiiied form of theinvention.

Figure 5 is a view of the lower portion of a fuse, showing a, furtherform of the invention.

Figure 6 is a view corresponding to Figure 5, showing a still furtherform of the invention.

Referring to Figures l, 2 and 3, it will be seen that the fuse iscarried from an upper terminal member i and a lower terminal member 2carried by suitable insulators 3 from a base member i. The fuse tube 5is provided with an upper contact 6 and alower contact or ruse strip re-The members 6 and l are provided with fiat faces against which thecontact springs 8 and@ bear when the fuse is in its operative position,as shown on the drawings.

The member i is provided with a slotted portion adapted to receive thefree end of the fuse link lli, and is provided with a clamping screw orbolt ii in the usual manner so as to permit ready renewal of the fuselink.

This construction is most clearly shown in Figure 2, from which it willbe seen'that .the fuse link i0 extends downwardly through the fuse tubearound its bottom edge and is thereafter clamped to the member 1,thereby constituting the device an expulsion fuse. `The fuse tube 5 isopen at-its lower end, and at its upper end is Vprovided with the uppercontact 6 closed by a removable screw threaded cap I2 provided with aprojecting upperpin I3. f

, The fuse link IU is provided with a reduced portionv I4 adjacent itsupper end andjwith a clip or disk I5 at its upper end adapted to beclamped between the cap I2 and the upper contact B.

The upper contact member I carries a retaining member in'the form of asleet hood I6 pivoted, as indicated at I1, to the upper terminal member.'I'his sleet hood is provided with` rearwardly projecting ears I8, seeFigure 1, which form stops to arrest its downward motion. It is urgeddownwardly by means of a leaf spring I9.

The sleet hood or upper latching or retaining member is provided with arecess 2li which normally receives theprojecting stem or pin I 3 of thecap I2, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The outer end of the combined upperlatching member and sleet hood is'provided with a flared portion 2|, asshown most clearly in Figure 3, to facilitate the entrance of the uppercontact and the adjacent portions.

The upper contact i pivotally carries an oper- I ating ring or releasingmember 22 which is spring urged into the position shown in Figure 1.This operating ring has a forked inner portion, thereby providing arms23 located below the latching sleet hood or-latching member, so thatwhen the ring is pulled downwardlyV by a switch rod or switch hook, thearms 23 move upwardly and thereby release the fuse andallow it to swingoutwardly and downwardly about its pivoted lower end. This allowstherdevice to be used as a disconnecting switch.

The lower member 'I is provided with trunnions or pivot portions 24which fit within the spaced hooked arms 25 of the lower' terminal member2. The lower Vportion of the lower terminal member. which forms acontinuation of the hooked arms 25, is continued downwardly, asindicated at 28,' and it is preferable to have these arms slightlyconverge towards their inner ends, as indicated in Figure 3, so as toreceive the tapered or wedgeshaped extensions 21 of the member 1 whenthe y' fuse swings downwardly through approximately 180 from itsposition shown in Figure l.

This construction prevents an abrupt shock or blow from the relativelyheavy swinging mass, but instead cushions the device, as it provides aslid- 1 ing Wedge contact between the arms 26 and the wedge members 21.The members 26 as well as the arms 21 will slightly yield to enhance thecushioning action. 'Y

The hooked arms 25 are so formed that the trunnions or pivots 24 may bereadily positioned or removed therefrom through the curved slot" locatedbetween theextensions 28 and the arms 25, see Figure 1.

The yupper portion of the member I is bifurcated and has projecting earsor arms 29 located' on opposite sides of a metal member 30 rigidlyattached to the fuse tube 5. i

The member 3l! is provided with a plate-like extension 32 projectingtherefrom and overhang,

ing the lower contact member of the fuse to thereby `constitute a sleethood to protect the lower parts from sleet.

Further, if desired, the member 30 may be provided with a -projecting'lip :I3 so that it can be received in the slot of a'fuse pole in theusual sacra manner when it isv desired to replace or remove the fuse.

The operation of the device is as follows: When an overload occurs, thefuse link ruptures at its reduced portion I4, see Figure 2, and blowsthe fuse link forcibly from the fuse tube 5, there` byY releasing themember 1 or lower contact member which had been held tightly in place bythe fuse link'itself, as is apparant from an examina.-

' there is no severe shock tion oi' Figure 2. The member 1 is nowpermitted to' rock about its lower pivot pins 24 and also about theupper pivot pins 3|, thereby dropping the fuse downwardly a sufiicientdistance to disengage the pin I3, see Figures 1 and 2, at the f upperend of the fuse fromthe upper latch or sleet hood. This, therefore,disconnects the fuse from the' upper contact and allows the fuse tobodily swing about its lower end through approximately 180. A'spreviously stated, the fuse is cushioned at the lower end -of its swingso that imposed upon any of the parts. y

It is` to be noted also that the' springs 8 and 9, see Figures 1 and 2,aid in the positive start- 25 i ing of the fuse after expulsion oi thefuse link, as

they press the' fuse outwardly. This, therefore, materially aids in apositive action of the device.

`It is apparent, therefore, that the fuse first operates4 as anexpulsion fuse and thereby automatically releases itself and dropsdownwardly and swings completely away from the upper or live contact,giving maximum separation of the parts and preventing any possiblechance of leakage or other disturbances oi this type.

The fact that the fuse tube is closed at its upper end has the advantagethat a distinct expulsionaction occurs and has the further advantagethat a distinct recoil of the fuse tube or fuse cartridge occurs. Forinstance, when a heavy .short circuit occurs,. the recoil .tends to hold`the fuse tube contacts tightly in engagement with the stationarycontacts unti1 the expulsive action of the fuse has cleared the circuit.By this time the eiect of the recoil is over and the device drops open.On more limited overload conditions the recoil is not so severe, butneverthelessthe device functions in'exactly the same way as describedabove and insures just suiiicie'nt time delay to prevent breaking of thecircuit at the contacts before the expulsive action has had suiiicienttime to clear the circuit. Under both conditions, the circuit is brokenby a true expulsion action and the device is automatically held closedby this expulsion action until the circuitis cleared, thereby avoidingarcing at the contacts.

Further, in this particular form of the invention, the pivot point 3| islocated upon the inner side of the tube and increases its distance oftravel and the time delay before the contact at y fuse is open at itslower end so that water cannot collect in the fuse tube. AIt is securelyclosed at its upper end by the contact cap I2, see Figure 2, so. thatwater cannot enter the upper end of the fuse. y

It is thus possible to use a ber or similarly lined tube with theassurance that the fiber will not be water soaked and yconsequently willnot ,warp the structure out of shape and prevent its free and easyoperation.

It is to be noted fronr Figure 2 that the fuse tube is lined with fiber,indicated by the reference characterv 34. "The fuse tube, therefore,constitutes a composite structure with an exterior or outer portionformed oi' phenol condensateproduct, commonly known as Bakelite," orother suitable material, and an inner portion formed of ber or similarmaterial which resists the terrific heat generated by the arc at thetime the fuse lower terminal member 4I.

The upper terminal membei 55 is provided with a pair of outwardlyprojecting arms 42 between which the upper contact 35 of the fuse isnormally positioned. Each of the'arms 42 is provided with a latchlngvspring 45 secured thereto and extending upwardly through an aperture iny its corresponding arm, so that the inwardly turned portion 44 of thespring will act as a stop to limit its downward motion. The springs 45normally engage lugs 45 integral with the upper contact 35 and thusretain the fuse in position.

However, the fuse may be readily released when it is to be used as adisconnecting switch by pulling downwardly on the operating ring 45,such ring being connected to a pair of arms 41 which press the springs45 upwardly and thus release4 which is pivoted, as indicated at 5i',`tothe lower contact 51. This lever 55 bears against the free end of a bellcrank lever 5'I which is pivoted to the lower contact 31, as indicatedat 52. This lever 5i is duplicated on opposite sides of the fuse andeach of the levers 5I is provided with outwardly projecting trunnions orpivot pins 53 which seat within the slots 54 formed in the side plates55. The side plates 55 are folded outwardly from the terminal member, asshown in Figure 4, and are slightly outwardly spread corresponding tothe arms 25 of the lrst form of the invention. They are thus inherentlyslightly yielding. However, they are urged towards each other by meansof a small helical spring 55 surrounding a through bolt 51 to thusslightly reinforce such plates.

The plates 55 receive between them the tapered lugs 58 formed integrallywith the lower contact member 31, and thus serve to cushion the finalportion of the swing of the fuse and prevent jarringof the apparatus.

,It is to be noted also that the lower end of the lugs 55 form abruptshoulders against which the levers 5i bear when they are in theirrestrained position, as shown in Figure 4. The fuse is, therefore,prevented from moving down wardly under normal conditions. However. whenthe fuse blows, the lever 50 is no longer restrained by the fuse linkand consequently it swings outwardly and allows the levers 5i to rockdownwardly, thereby rocking the pivot points 52 outwardly and thuslowering the fuse. The lugs 45 of the upper contact I5 are thusdisengaged from the retaining or latching springs 45 and the fuse rocksoutwardly and downwardly. as previously described.

Referring to Figure 5 wherein another form of the invention isdisclosed, it will be seen that the fuse tube 55 is.provided with alower contact member v5|! engaged and urged outwardly by means or acontact spring 5I carried by the lower terminal member 52. A pair o!hooked supporting arms 53 project outwardly from the lower terminalmember and receive the fulcrum plus or pivot pins 54 of a pair of bellcrank levers 55.'

These bell crank levers are pivotally connected, as indicated at 55, tothe lower contact member and are provided with cam faces 51.

The fuse` link is received by the fuse link receiving member 59 andlocked by the screw 'or bolt 10, as previously described. This member 59is provided with a pair of lever arms 1I pivoted, as indicated at 12, tothe lower contact 55 and provided with extensions 13 which engage thecam faces 51 oi' the lever 55. y

A pair of outwardly projecting springs 14 are carried bythe stationaryarms 53 and are 1ocated on opposite sides of the lower end of the fuse.These springs act as cushion members and 'are adapted to be struck by atransverse bar 15 carried by the fuse to thereby cushion the fuse -andprevent excessive pressures being produced at the lower end of the swingof the fuse.

The contact spring 5I urges the fuse outwardly, but it is restrained bythe lever mechanism consisting of the bell crank lever 55 and 1 I.However, when the fuse blows, the member 59 rocks upwardly a slightdistance, thereby releasing the levers 55 and allowing the fulcrumpoints 55 to move outwardly beyond the fulcrum points 54, thus allowingthe fuse to drop downwardly and release from its upper end. The fusethen swings outwardly, as previously described.

Referring to Figure 6 wherein a further form of the invention is shown,`it will be seen that the fuse tube 15 is provided with a lower contactmember 11 engaged by the ilat portion 15 of a contact spring carried bythe lower terminal member. A pair of outwardly projecting arms x 19 arealso carried by the lower terminal memlil' ber and are provided withhooked ends 55 spaced a material distance below the lower edge of themain body of the members 19 to thusprovide ideflect a laterally opening,elongated slot with- -in which the trunnion members or pivot pins'5lrigid with the lower contact 11 are carried. The

fuse link 52 passes around the lower end of the fuse link receivingmember or lever 53, which is pivoted, as indicated at 84, to the contact11. It is provided with a cam face which engages the free end of a lever86 and holds such lever against a stop 51 carried by the member 11.

The lever 85 is provided with an extension 55 which carries a transversebar 89. The bar 55 rests upon the slanting upper faces of the `member 19and thus supports the fuse in the Q to any/of those previouslydescribed, starts the fuse towards its outward swing, the fusecompleting its outward swing and beingarrested at the linut orv suchswing in any suitable manner, as by having the fuse tube 16 strikeagainst a transverse pin l! carried by the member 19, or in factcushioned or arrested in any manner desired, for example in a mannersimilar to any previously described.

It is to be noted also thatthe' downwardly and outwardly `inclined upperfaces 9|) of the member 19 urge the fuse outwardly as it dropsdownwardly. The lower portion of the transverse b'ar 89 is rounded andsomewhat of a rolling action takes place between this member-"and theupper faces SII of the outwardly projectingv arms T9.

It will be seen that in all types of the invention that the expulsionfuse automatically releases itself when the fuse link is ruptured andallows the fuse to drop downwardly, thus disengaging itself from theupper catch and subsequently swinging outwardly to provide maximumsepara-- tion between the upper end of the fuseand the upper contact.

It will be seen further that a very simple type of combined fuse anddisconnecting switch has been provided which is automatic in its action,which is adapted for outdoor use, which prevents the accumulation orretention of water within the fuse tube, and which is thoroughlyreliable in its operation.' l

controlled bythe tension of said fuse link for unlatching the upperportion when said fuse blows.

i necting said upper and lower terminal members It is to be distinctlyunderstood, that any of the several Atypes of fuses may be provided witha` projecting lip similar to the lip 33 of Figure 1, so that such lipmay be received by a fuse stick or pole in the usual manner, and thatother combinations, not speciiically illustrated, may be employed.Therefore,v although `this invention has been described in considerabledetail, it is to be understood that such description is intended asillustrative rather than limiting, as the invention may be variouslyembodied and is .to be interpreted as claimed.

We claim:

1. A fuse Switch comprising an upper terminal `member and a lowerterminal member,4 a fuse having upper and lower contacts electricallyconnected to said terminal members, said fuse being supported from saidterminal members and being provided with a fuse link, and means normallyrestrained from movement by said fuse link, said means holding said fusein place and adapted to iirst lower said fuse when said fuse link isfused, to disengage said fuse from said upper terminal member, said fusethereafter-pivot# ing about 'its lower portion andl swinging away fromsaid upper terminal member,

2. A fuse assembly comprising upper and lower terminal members, a fusehaving upper and lower contacts electrically connected to said terminalmembers, a fuse link carried by said fuse, lever mechanism for bodilylowering said fuse out of engagement with said upper terminal member,

said lever mechanism normally holding said fuse in an elevated positionand beingnormally held against movement by said fuse link, said fusebeing pivotally supported adjacent its lower end and adapted to` swingoutwardly `when disengaged from said upper terminal member.

3. An expulsion fuse assembly comprising upper and lowerterminal'members, a fuse latched to said upper terminal member and pivoted tosaid lower terminal member, said fuse having a tubular body portionclosed at its upper end and open at its lower end, a fuse link withinsaid tubular bodyr portion, and means mechanically 4. An expulsion fuseassembly comprising upper and lower terminal members, a fuse detachablysecured to said upper terminal member and pivoted to said lower terminalmember, said fuse having a tubular body portion closed at its upper endand open at it slower end, a fuse link within said tubular body portionextending outwardly from the open lower end of said tubular bodyportion, and latch means at the upper end of the tubular body portionmechanically'controlled by `the lower projecting portion of said fuselink for detaching said fuse from said upper, terminal member.

5. An expulsion fuse assembly comprising upper and lower terminalmembers, a fuse detachably attached to said upper terminal member andpivotally supported from `said lower terminal member, said fuse having atubular body portion closed at its upper end and open at its lower endand provided with upper and lower contacts, up`

-per'and lower contact springs electrically conand said upper and lowercontacts respectively, a fuse link carried Within said tubular bodyportion and electrically joining said upper and lower contacts andprojecting from the lower end of said tubular body portion, and latchmechanism at the upper end of the tubular body portion controlled by thelower projecting portion of said fuse link for detaching said fuse fromsaid upper terminal member when said fuse blows, whereby said fuse rocksoutwardly and downwardly from said upper terminal` Amember when saidfuse blows. f

6. An expulsion fuse assembly comprising 11pper and lower` terminalmembers, a fuse latched to tubular body portion closed at the top andopen atthe bottom, a fuse linkwithin said tubular body portion andextending outwardly through the lower open end thereof, said lowerterminal member constituting a pivot support, a lever pivoted adjacentits upper end to said body portion and pivotally resting in the pivotsupport of said lower terminal member and normally approximatelyparalleling said body portion, the lower end of said link'extending overthe lower end kof said lever and normally holding said lever in place,and means `carried by said lever for clamping said link to said lever.

7. A fuse switch comprising upper and lower line terminals, a springholding means extending predetermined distance, andthe articulationbetween the said movable terminal and the car- -trid'ge being such as toshorten said distance and release the upper terminal engaging element Yfrom the said extension when said fuse blows.

8. In a fuse switch embodying spaced line, terminals, a tubular fuseholder, afuse `link in said holder held at one end against endwisemovement relative to. said holder, a lever carried by v 29,412 saidholder engaging the opposite end of said fuse link, cooperable means onsaid lever and one of said line terminals providing a hinged mountingfor said fuse holder, the other oi said line terminals being resilientand adapted to exert an endwise force on said fuse holder.

`member, a fuse link in the tube connected at its upper end to saidterminal, land byanchorage of its lower end controlling the angularposition o! the supporting link with respect to the tube, saidsupporting link having laterally spaced rotary bearing portions forcooperation with spaced stationary bearings to provide stable rotarysupport.

10. A fuse `unit comprising in combination a tube. a. termnial closingthe upper end of the tube and providing at its Iupper end a shoulderwhereby the upper end of 'the tube may be held against lateral motion, ametallic member secured to the tube adiacent itslower end land having abracket arm extending laterally with respect to the tube, a bell cranklever having one arm pivotally connected to said bracket arm and havinga free arm, said bell crank lever having laterally spaced bearingmembers forming a rotary support for the bell crank, a fusible link inthe tube electrically connecting said terminal' and said bell crank andmechanically restraining the free arm of said bell crank.

11. In a cutout switch having spaced terminals, a tube, a contact on thetube engaging one Aof the terminals, a second contact on said tubepivotally supporting the tube from the other of said terminals, saidsecond contact including a lever having a pin joint connection with thetube and a pivotal connection with the last men tioned terminal toprovide a, two-joint pivot, and means for holding said lever againstpivotal movement relative to said tube and for establishing an arc insaid tube, said means including a tensioned fuse link establishing acircuit through said tube.

12. In a cutout switch having spaced terminals, a tube, a contact on thetube engaging one of said terminals, a second contact on said tubepivotally supporting the tube` from the other of said terminals, saidtube being bodily movable relative to said pivot for withdrawing thefirst mentioned contact from engagement with said one terminal, andmeans for holding said tube against movement relative to said pivot fordrawing an arc in said tube, said means including a tensioned fuse forestablishing a circuit through said tube.

13. In a disconnecting switch having spaced terminals, a tube having atone end an upper contact latched to one of said terminals, and having atthe other end a lower contact pivoted on the other of said terminals,said last mentioned end being movable relative to said pivot thereby towithdraw the upper contact from the latch, and a flexible conductor insaid tube connecting said contacts and holding said tube againstmovement relative to said pivot, said conductor including a separableportion.

14. In combination, an upper line terminal, a lower line terminal, afuse tube adapted to be closed at its upper end, a coupling between theupper line terminal and the upper end of the fuse tube. comprising alatch preventing the upper end ot the tube from swinging out o!engagement therewithbut allowing endwise disensagement or the tube, acoupling between the lower end of the tube. and the lower line terminalproviding for free pivotal motion of the tube on said lower terminalwhen the upper coupling is disengaged, and comprising guiding meansallowing for endwise sliding o! the tube relative to the lower lineterminal' to cause disengagement o the upper coupling, and meansincluding a fusible link in the tube for holding the tube againstendwise sliding movement relative to the lower line terminal.

l5. An expulsion fuse assembly comprising upper and lower terminalmembers, a latch mounted on the upper terminal member, a. fuse held bysaid latch to said yupper terminal member and pivoted to said lowerterminal member, said ruse having a tubular body portion closed at itsupper end and open at its lower end, a fuse link within said tubularbody portion, and means mechanically controlled by the tension of saidfuse link for releasing the upper portion of the fuse from said latchwhen said fuse blows.

16. In a circuit`breaker, an expulsion tube of insulating material,conducting means tlxedly attached on the tube, insulated supportingmeans for said tube, latch means on one of said insulated supportingmeans for engaging the conducting means at one end of said tube, pluralpivot means associated with the conducting means at the other end ofsaid tube for pivotally mounting said tube upon the other of saidinsulated supporting means, link means connectingl l upper and lowerterminal members, a fuse latched to said upper terminal member andpivotally supported by said lower terminal member, said fuse having atubular body portion closed at its upper end by a cap and open at itslower end for the discharge of substantially all of the gases downwardlyout of the tubular body, a fuse link within said tubular body portionand means movable as an incident to the blowing oi' the fuse link toeffect unlatching of the upper portion when the fuse blows.

18. In combination, a stationary contact terminal, a drop out fuseincluding a closed top tube engageable therewith, a latch for latching aspring operable upon blowing of the fuse to 'release said latch andextend the arc.

19. In a. drop out fuse assembly, a stationary contact, a, pivoted fusehaving an open lower end and a cap at the upper end, a stationarycontact for engaging said cap, said tube being provided with a ferruleat its lower end, and a pivoted mounting to permit the tube to swingoutwardly and downwardly to disconnect said cap from said stationarycontact when the fuse` link melts, and a resiliently stressed fuse linkoperating to interrupt current flow through the device before .the`capleaves engagement with the stationary contact whereby arcing between thestationary contact and the cap is avoided. Y

20. The expulsion fuse assembly of claim 3 further 'characterized bysaid means including engaging latching portions, one of which is at theupper end of the tubular body portion ,and isymovablein the longitudinaldirection oi the tubular body portion toeiect ultimate movement out ofregister and engagement of said latching portions upon blowing ofthelink.

21. The fuse assembly of claimv further characterized by said meansincluding a part oi' the fuse movable longitudinally relativeto the axisthereof in eilecting release of the latch. 22. The expulsion fuseassembly of claim 4 further characterized by said upper end beingmovable to detach the tubular body portion from said upper terminal andsaid means effecting movement of said upper end upon ruptureof said fuselink.

23. The expulsion fuse assembly of claim 5` further characterized bysaid upper contact being movable for detaching said fuse from saidupper' terminal and said 4mechanism eilec'ting` such movement of saidupper contact.

24. The expulsion fuse assembly of claim 17 further characterized bysaid means including a part movable longitudinally relative tothe fuseaxis in the releasing of the latched fuse.

25. The combination of claim18 further characterized by said latchbeing'associatcd with a closure member at the upper end of said tube andby said tube being swingable relative to the longitudinal laxis, of saidfuse in the fuse opening operation. 4

2'6. The drop out fuse assembly of claim 19 further characterized bysaid cap being movable in the longitudinal direction of said tube toeiect said swinging motion of said tube. 27.`The expulsion fuse assemblyof claim 3 furthe: characterized by the upper terminal member beingchanneled and provided with a concealed latching abutment, and saidmeans including a latching part on the upper end of the tubular bodyportion disengageable upon movement in the direction of the length ofvthe tubular body portion when `the fuse blows and whereby said tubularbody portion is freeto swing on its pivot, outwardly into a positionextending below said terminal member.

28. The expulsion fuse assembly of claim 3 further characterized by amanually engageable handle'connected to the upper end of said tubularbody portion for effecting manual release of the fuse from the upperterminal'member without disturbing said fuse link.

V29. The combination of claim 18 in which the drop out fuse is pivotallymounted on a lower contact terminal and is swingable` through an arc of`approximately 180 after movement of a part of the fuse longitudinallyrelative to the axis thereof. i '3 30. The fuse assemblyrtof claim 17further characterized by the upper terminal member having associatedwith fita channeled portion for receiving the upper end of thetubularfbody v portion and in which the sa'id upper end is adapted to beclosely confined and further by said means including alatching member atthe upper end of the tubular body portion for latching connection of theupper end of the fusejin saidchanneled portion, and which connection isreleased upon blowing of the fuse. p i

31. The expulsion fuse assembly of claim 17 further characterized bythel upper terminal member being of channeled constructionand by theupper end of the tubular body portion including a cap and an associatedlatching element, said channeled member having-therein means arranged tobe engaged by said latching element upon movement of said cap upwardlyinto the channeled member whereby said capped -upper end oi' the fuse isheld in telescoping cooperation with the channeled member to aid inprotecting the fuse from the natural elements.

32. The expulsion fuse assembly of claim 17 further characterized bythe` upper terminal member including a closed top channeled protectivepart having latching means therein and further by said upper end of thefuse body portion being provided with a cap for telescoping saidchanneled part and closely conilnedthereby with said fuse latched tosaid latching means in the channeled part, said movable means*cooperating through the upper end of the' fuse to eilect disengagementof said latching means upon blowing of the link whereby said upper endof the fuse is ejected from said channeled terminal member part.

33. An expulsion fuse assembly comprising upper and lower terminalmembers, a fuse latched to said upper terminal member and pivotallysupported by said lower'terminal member, said fuse having a tubular bodyportionrclosed at its upper, end againstthe passage of a fuse linktherethrough and open at itsl -lower end for the expulsion ofsubstantially all the gases downber including a protective said spring`ubular body portion andlemeans movable as an incident to the blowing ofthe fuse link to eil'ect unlatching of the upper portion of the fusewhen the fuse blows, said upper terminal member being channeled toreceive the upper end of the tubular body portion and in which the saidupper end is adapted to be closely conned and further by said meansincluding spring means in the channel terminal, said channeledterminal-member and closed upper end of the fuse matically/disengageable fromv latched cooperation upon blowing ofthe fuse linkand said closed end being then movable outwardly of the channeledterminal member Vunder the influence of swings downwardly about itspivot to a blown position.

34. An expulsion fuse assembly comprising uppery and lower terminalmembers, a fuse detachably secured to said upper terminahmember andpivoted to said lower'terminal member, said fuse having a tubular bodyportion closed at its upper end against` the passage of a fuse linktherethrough and openat its lower en d for the expulsion. ofsubstantially all the gases downwardly through the fuse, a fuse linkwithin said tubular body portion extenlingoutwardly from the open lowerend of the u andlatch means at the upper end of` the tube portion ofsaid fuse link for detaching .said fuse from said upper terminalvmember, saidfclosed end of said fuse'havlng a part cooperating withupper terminalv memhood for .saidl latch the fuse, disengagesaid latchmeans and said and for said closed endof ment of said latch means closedend upon blowing of `said fuse link. 1. i

35. The fuse assembly of claim 34 vfurther characterized byspringlmeansin th'ehoodffor ejecting the capped upper, end of the' fusefrom the hoodupon the unlatching ofnsaid latch means. Aassembly orclairn `19 36. Thedropout fuse further characterized yby the' stationary contact includinga closed topchanne'lfed part yfor receiv ing and closely'conning thecapped end-ofthe being automeans whereby the fuse thereafter bular bodyVportion,

being ,eifectedflat said fuse, and latch means in the channeled partcooperating'with alportion of the tube and said cap and disengageableupon movement oi' said portion when said link is blown.

37. The drop out fuse assembly oi claim 19 further characterized by thestationary contact including a. hood-for receiving and closely confiningthe capped end of the fuse and wherein said capped end is latched andautomatically releasable upon blowing of the' link, said hood alsohaving spring means for electing the capped end of the fuse outwardlyupon disengagement of the latch so that the fuse may then swing downwardly on its pivotal mounting. i

33. An expulsion fuse assembly comprising upper and lower terminalmembers, a fuse latched to said upper terminal member and pivotallysupported by said lower terminal member, said fuse having a tubular bodyportion closed at its upper end against the passage when assembled of afuse link therethrough'and open at its lower end for the expulsion ofsubstantially all the gases downwardly out of the fuse, a fuse linkwithin said tubular body portion and means movlink to eiect unlatchingof the upper portion of the fuse when the fuse blows, said upperterminal member housing and protecting catch means cooperating with theupper end of saielA top is closely confined when the fuse is inoperative position, said closed top being movable outwardly of saidchanneled contact terminal after disengagement of said latch wherebysaid fuse thereafter swings downwardly about its pivot to an openposition.

WILLIAM 0. SCHULTZ.

ALWIN G. STEINMAYER.

able as an incident to the blowing of the fusey

